-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- If you travel by plane and arriving on time makes a difference , try to book on Hawaiian Airlines . In 2012 , passengers got where they needed to go without delay on the carrier more than nine times out of 10 , according to a study released on Monday .

In fact , Hawaiian got even better from 2011 , when it had a 92.8 % on-time performance . Last year , it improved to 93.4 % .

The Airline Quality Rankings Report looks at the 14 largest U.S. airlines and is based on an analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation figures . It 's co-authored by Brent Bowen , the head of the Department of Aviation Technology at Purdue University , and Dean Headley of Wichita State .

In addition to on-time performance , the joint project looks at three other categories : rate of consumer complaints , mishandled bags and denied boarding performance .

At a time when U.S. airlines are a whipping post for passenger complaints about crowded flights , tight seats , costly tickets and unsatisfactory service , there is a glimmer of hope .

Eight airlines improved their on-time arrival performance in 2012 . Nine of the 14 rated had an on-time arrival percentage of more than 80 % .

ExpressJet and American Airlines had the worst on-time performance -LRB- 76.9 % -RRB- last year , according to the data gathered in the 23rd annual report .

Virgin America had the best baggage handling rate of all the airlines -LRB- 0.87 misplaced bags per 1,000 passengers . -RRB- American Eagle showed improvement from 2011 but still came in last , fumbling baggage at a rate of 5.80 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers .

When it came to complaints last year , Southwest again had the lowest consumer rate -LRB- 0.25 per 100,000 passengers -RRB- while the distinction of being the airline with the highest consumer complaint rate went to United Airlines -LRB- 4.24 per 100,000 . -RRB-

Seven of the world 's most entertaining airports

Boeing does ` final ' battery test on 787 Dreamliner

FAA delays closures of 149 control towers

@highlight

Hawaiian Airlines again lands at No. 1 in on-time performance

@highlight

The Airline Quality Rankings Report looks at the 14 largest U.S. airlines

@highlight

ExpressJet and American Airlines had the worst on-time performance

@highlight

Virgin America had the best baggage handling ; Southwest had lowest complaint rate